Theatre History and Literature I
DRAM 200
Fall and Winter 2012-13
Tuesdays 1-2:30pm, Thursdays 11:30am to 1pm
Instructor: Craig Walker
Instructor Contact Information: craig.walker@queensu.ca; 613-533-6000 ext 75292
Office Hours: Theological Hall 010 or 018 (main), Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 3 to 4pm; other times by appointment.
TA: Sarah Ebbs
Course Goals and Objectives
Calendar description: “A chronological survey of production methods, architecture, performance, and dramatic literature in western and eastern theatre traditions from early classical eras to the end of the 19th century.” The intention of this course is to familiarize students with a broad range of artistic styles, developments and approaches in theatre history as well as a certain number of key texts in dramatic literature. We are studying the dramatic texts alongside the theatre history not merely as a means of illustrating examples of the content of the various theatres, but in their own right, as important works of literature. The plays studied are, where possible, chosen because of their historical importance and literary value. It is expected that, by the end of this course, students will have a broad chronological frame of theatre history within which to locate particular events and also a rough lexicon of historical styles to which they can refer. It is further expected that students will be able to confidently read and interpret dramatic texts, and to write knowledgeably about these, not only from a historical perspective, but from a variety of critical perspectives.
